Dealers concerned over investment required for electric vehicles

Dealers have reported improved new car supply but are concerned over the level investment required to be electric vehicle (EV) ready.

When asked how satisfied dealers were with their manufacturer’s new vehicle supply, the latest Dealer Attitude Survey, from the National Franchised Dealer Association (NFDA), highlighted a marginal improvement.

They returned an average of 5.5 out of 10, 0.5 points higher than winter 2022, which equated to a 10% uplift.

Lexus (7.7), Nissan (7.6) and Kia (7.5) were most satisfied and DS (3), Ford (2.8) and Jaguar (2.6) were least satisfied.

The survey revealed that franchised dealer sentiment around EVs is being weighed down by the high levels of investment required for EV preparation, in conjunction to manufacturer support.

In particular, dealers have raised concerns with their manufacturer’s support for on-site EV charging infrastructure, returning an average of 4.9 out of 10, the lowest returning score for the entire survey.

“NFDA’s Dealer Attitude Survey is a comprehensive analysis that delves into the perspectives, insights, and sentiments of the working relationship between franchised dealerships and their respective manufacturers across the UK,” said Sue Robinson, chief executive of the NFDA.

NFDA’s Dealer Attitude Survey, Summer 2023 edition was conducted over August and September 2023, asking franchised dealers’ questions about the on-going business relationship with their respective manufacturer(s).

The survey attracted 2,531 responses from 32 franchised networks, equating to a joint record response rate of 68%.

The 2023 summer survey showed a general downward trend across a majority of questions, with 47 out of 55 questions showing a decline compared to the previous winter 2022/23 edition.

Dealer satisfaction levels for profit returns has fallen on average from six months prior, from 6.7 in Winter 2022/23 edition, to 6.2 in the current Summer 2023 edition, equating to a 7.5% fall.

The highest three returning scores came from Kia (9.1), BMW (8.3) and MINI (8.2). The lowest returning three scores from Vauxhall (2.4), Citroen (2.2) and DS (1.2).

The highest returning scores from the survey revolve around used car satisfaction.

Dealers were most satisfied with their respective manufacturers’ used car standards, returning the highest average score of 7.1 out of 10.

This was followed by total margins made from used cars, returning an average of 7 out of 10.

Lexus (9), Kia (8.9) and Suzuki (8.4) were the front runners, with Citroen (4.4), Jeep (4.4) and DS (3.9) making up the bottom three spots.

Dealer opinions around manufacturer’s approaches to future retailing agreements and contracts has fallen on average by 0.3, from 6.3 in the winter 2022 survey to 6 in the summer.

Lexus has returned the highest score of 9.2, followed by Kia (9.1) and Suzuki (8.6). The lowest returning scores came from Vauxhall (2.6), Citroen (2.4) and DS (1.0).

The question ‘how would you rate your manufacturer overall on a scale of 1 to 10?’ returned an average of 6.3, a 0.2 fall from our winter 2022.

Kia (9.5), Lexus (9.2), and Mini (9.0) were the top performers whilst Vauxhall (2.4), Jeep (2.3), and DS (1.5) received the lowest ratings.

Audi improved the most with a 26% increase in rating from the previous survey.

Robinson concluded: “It is particularly disappointing to see the Stellantis brands again receiving the lowest scores across the board, a clear indication of a challenged business relationship and highlights a pressing need for improved collaboration and support to better align with dealer expectations and foster a mutually beneficial business operation.

“With the dynamic landscape of the automotive industry constantly evolving, it is now more important than ever to listen to the attitudes of dealers, serving as the compass that guides us towards a future sector of innovation, collaboration, and mutual success.”